Meet Radama the Great!
Cassia, granddaughter of Jovian aka Zoboomafoo, and her son, Radama the Great. Photo by David Haring.
We’re excited to announce the newest member of Zoboomafoo’s illustrious family: Radama the Great, named after a Malagasy king!
Radama (“rah-DAH-mah”) was born on April 5, 2025, to first-time Coquerel’s sifaka parents Cassia and Eustace. Born at only 85 grams, Radama started off smaller than most sifaka infants, but dedicated care from his parents and the Duke Lemur Center husbandry and veterinary staff have helped this little lemur grow into a sweet, curious juvenile.
Radama’s name was selected by the donor of the Anna Borruel Codina Center for Lemur Medicine and Research. “Cassia was one of the first lemurs treated in the Borruel Center’s ICU,” says DLC Executive Director Greg Dye. “Given the role that the Borruel Center played in Cassia’s treatment and recovery, we thought it only fitting to allow the donor to choose the name of Cassia’s first infant.”
(Watch this NBC/LX special showing Cassia’s lifesaving treatment by the DLC vet staff after she was bitten by a venomous copperhead snake.)
Radama clings to dad Eustace. Eustace has minimal experience with infant care, as he left his natal group to pair with Cassia shortly after younger sister Egeria was born, but he’s a natural! Photo by Lizzie L.
Radama free-ranges for the first time, clinging tight to mom while Cassia snacks enthusiastically on leaves. Photo by David Haring.
Radama has been eager to explore the forest with his mom and dad. Though he never strays too far, Radama has been spotted climbing independently on nearby branches while Cassia and Eustace groom and forage. He likes to chew on leaves and pieces of grass that he can reach from his cozy perch on mom’s back, his wide-eyed gaze taking in his surroundings. Radama even participates in grooming sessions with mom and dad, using his tiny tooth comb to mimic his parents as he learns how to be a lemur.
Fun fact: While Jovian, the Coquerel’s sifaka who played the eponymous Zoboomafoo, had twelve offspring over the course of his life and is survived by many grandlemurs, Radama the Great is only his second great-grandlemur!
Coquerel’s sifakas eat leaves and other plant matter of over 90 different species in the wild. Infants learn what to eat by closely watching mom, sometimes even stealing food right out of her mouth! Photo by Abby Flyer.
Radama explores independently, under careful supervision from his parents. From top to bottom: Eustace, Cassia, Radama. Photo by Abby Flyer.
